Nigerian government on Tuesday said it was in the process of kick-starting a review of the current minimum wage of N30,000.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who addressed workers at the 13th quadrennial delegates conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held in Abuja, said the present government would fast track the process to see that a new minimum wage was ready latest by May next year.
Read Also: NSA Expresses Fear Over Security Challenges, Says It May Affect 2023 Census
The Nigerian government had last year dismissed reports that it was set to review salaries of civil servants, with the Labour Minister clarifying that the government was to review only some peculiar allowances, not salaries.
Ngige on Tuesday warned labour unions to desist from meddling in government affairs and attempting to impose their will on it about appointment decisions.
He also accused trade unions of violating the terms of the Trade Union Act which mandated that all newly elected Trade Union Officials take the required courses at the Michael Imuodu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) for necessary knowledge and develop into seasoned Industrial Relations authorities.
He said:
The good stories that filter out from the Trade Union Act are that we put out an Act, a legislation, that had in place an inbuilt review five years mechanism, unlike the former Act. So mandatorily, Nigeria will produce a new minimum wage on or before May, 2024.
It is acknowledged both nationally and internationally that government would not interfere in trade union matters and likewise, Trade Unions are not to interfere in Labour Administration unless as provided by the laws and principles of tripartism.
Trade Unions are not mandated to dictate to the Government on appointment of Public Officials such as Permanent Secretaries, Director Generals, Director, etc. as such appointments are within the purview of Government functionalities. How will a trade union fare if the Government starts dictating on who and how they elect their executives.
Non-Reportage has been a bane on sincerely conducted social dialogue and negotiations as the majority of the workers’ population are left with no information, under-information and most often misinformation.
